But there was in Oliver Cromwell an element of religious toleration that was far ahead of its time. He once said: "I say if any shall but desire to lead a life of godliness and honesty let him be protected" and declared that he had "rather Mohammedanism were permitted amongst us than that one of God's children should be persecuted".

In September of 1650 he told the Scottish Presbyterians: "Fear lest error should step in is like the man who would keep all wine out of the country lest men should be drunk."

While Cromwell was not always able to uphold these principles, he is rarely credited with a spirit of toleration that became established later.